Pakistan Bloghttp://www.actionaid.org/feed/blog/237
enPhilippines Typhoons: Landless affectees need collaborative support from INGOs and the government http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2015/01/philippines-typhoons-landless-affectees-need-collaborative-support-ingos-and-gove-0
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<p>I have been visiting different parts of Philippines to assess the damage caused by the latest typhoon - Hagupit (locally known as Ruby), and the impact on the poorest of the poor families.</p><p>From my experience of working in emergencies, I realized that the intensity of problems for landless communities affected by typhoon Hagupit (and of course Yolanda) was much greater than was being reported by different stakeholders and responders.</p><p>There are certain issues which may be further exacerbated if a long term disaster response approach is not applied. <strong>The main issue is the lack of land for the poorest of the poor who unfortunately happen to have sustained huge losses in terms of displacement, house destruction and livelihood disruption.</strong></p><p>During the visit, I learnt that majority of the people affected by the typhoon do not own any land. They have constructed small temporary shelters either on the river bank or at the sea shore. In most cases, land is the government’s property.</p><p>Whenever, there is a typhoon or a high tide (which unfortunately is a routine occurrence if you live so close to the water), these people are the first to be affected. At times, they are the only people affected, but tragically, such disasters fail to attract attention of media, INGOs and even the government.</p><p>On interviewing the affected landless families, they told me that they did not have resources to procure land. As a part of ActionAid’s Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA), we contacted local government officials (captains and a mayor) to find out what the government’s take on the issue was. &nbsp;</p><p>Captains of different Barangays (villages) simply have a pre-prepared answer that they neither have the resource nor the authority to procure land for landless communities. However, the mayor of one municipality (Catarman, Northern Samar) agreed to take up the land procurement issue with the provincial government for resource allocation in the 2015 budget plans.</p><p>To me, this can be a good starting point for ActionAid and other likeminded organizations working in typhoon affected areas. We discussed in detail what the possible collaborative initiatives could be, as well as conducting a preliminary exercise to assess the actual cost of constructing a disaster resilient house.</p><p>The mayor first wanted a commitment from ActionAid or a cluster of international NGOs (INGOs) to provide permanent shelter to the people made homeless by the typhoon, particularly the landless families- only then would he lobby the provincial government for land.</p><p>We also discussed the possible impact on the livelihoods of the affected communities if they were relocated far from the seashore. Most of the affected families were fisher folk who preferred to stay closer to the seashore, despite the potential dangers given the frequency of typhoons the country has seen in 2014.</p><p>The mayor was of the view that it would be near to impossible to procure land in the main area because it is very costly. He said that the government would only agree to the proposal if land is cheap and far from the centre of a particular barangay or the city.</p><p>Now the question is whether INGOs will ensure an effective follow up with the mayor and other government officials to make this proposition viable. Secondly, the urgency of the issue requires effective coordination with other actors in the emergency response.</p><p>The next important step would be rapid fundraising to make sure the most in need are supported in a sustainable way. Last but not the least, the emergency response provides us an opportunity to ensure women’s economic, social and political empowerment.</p><p>In the Philippines, the lack of land and resilient homes are sources of insecurity for women. The biannual investment those women and their families make in rebuilding their homes results in economic loss for women and their families. <strong>Recurring disasters deepen economic insecurity among all those affected, but it has the worst impact on women who are responsible for managing the household budget from whatever little income they receive from men. </strong></p><p>ActionAid is working with landless communities in the Philippines, particularly women to support them to claim their rights and be better prepared for disasters in future. This is heartening to mention here that in the post Haiyan and Hagupit typhoons, ActionAid prioritized women for shelter and livelihood support.</p><p>Find out more about our work in the Philippines: <a href="http://www.actionaid.org/philippines">http://www.actionaid.org/philippines</a></p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2015/01/philippines-typhoons-landless-affectees-need-collaborative-support-ingos-and-gove-0#commentsProjectPhilippinesAsiaEmergencies & ConflictPakistanThu, 08 Jan 2015 07:25:07 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani578969 at http://www.actionaid.orgTyphoons mired communities struggle hard to evade future disasters http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2015/01/typhoons-mired-communities-struggle-hard-evade-future-disasters
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<p>Life for a poor family in Philippines is as bad and challenging as one can imagine of it to be. Recurrent disasters have had a very serious impact on their ability to rebuild lives. They are trapped in a never ending cycle of typhoons, storms and landfalls and above all the poverty.</p><p>During last two weeks, I have been traveling to different parts of Philippines to collect case studies and photos so that ActionAid is able to make a strong case for humanitarian support to the poorest of the poor families affected by a series of typhoons.</p><p>To my surprise, people have little hope of seeking substantial support from both the government and the civil society. At some places, a good number of humanitarian organizations were out there to extend as much support as they could but still it seemed to be quite insufficient given the propensity of loss incurred upon the affected communities by a series of typhoons.</p><p>The difficult part of emergency response is provision of permanent shelter to the most marginalized families. Unfortunately they don’t own even a small piece of land. Most of them have no choice but to build houses inside the water. Despite the fact that the government has declared these places as ‘no build areas’, for a large number of people, this is the only available option for housing. &nbsp;</p><p>While having discussion with local government officials (captains and a mayor), I learnt that the government did not seem to have chalked out a comprehensive plan for rehabilitation of the people affected by the typhoons. Most of them complained that they did not have enough resources to initiate resettlement plan for the affected communities.</p><p>Though there have been visible support from humanitarian organizations including ActionAid for the affectees of typhoon Yolanda, yet the families affected by typhoon Hagupit are still living in the evacuation centres. These evacuation centres present a gloomy picture of life. People don’t have privacy at all as a number of families (mostly 10-20) live in a single room hall where issues of hygiene, healthcare and emotional trauma are too big for the local government authorities to take care of.</p><p>For a larger number of poor families I happened to visit, disaster resilience is nothing else but to struggle for daily living, mending broken houses with locally available material and keeping an eye on rising water level.&nbsp; Risk of younger kids to get drowned in deep water was alarmingly high as I witnessed mothers observing strict vigilance on their movement. Furthermore, it does not look like that children were having nutritious diet as their mother were in distress and it really had impact on the children too.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>To my disappointment, I did not see effective coordination among different humanitarian organizations present in the same area. I attended a coordination meeting organized by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Office (PDRRMO) in Borangay, Eastern Samar. I observed that the most of the organizations failed to submit consolidated data regarding typhoon Hagupit response.</p><p>Likewise, in terms of having access to need assessment data, there was no independent mechanism except the figures shared by the government authorities. However, all stakeholders realized the importance of consolidating information so that a holistic picture of ongoing response could be drawn. ActionAid staff was keen to find out where the need for shelter support was the most.</p><p>We shared our findings with other stakeholders particularly the government that the barangays located far away from the mainstream areas, were in bad need of shelter support. We urged the government officials to allocate land to the landless communities so that they were able to construct disaster resilient houses with support from ActionAid and other humanitarian organizations.</p><p>The most annoying part of disaster response is the lackluster approach of the government in terms of honoring the commitment it made to the affected families. In post Yolanda and Hagupit situation, government pledged to pay 30, 000 pesos (£406) to all the affected families. Unfortunately, there is no progress at all in this regard. Worst of all, most of the affected families are still waiting for government officials to visit them and assess the damage they sustained.</p><p>Apart from shelter support, I believe that women economic empowerment is another neglected area. For the poorest of the poor, we can only transform disaster into opportunity if women are prioritized for sustainable income generations models like seeds banks, kitchen gardening and livestock rearing. From my interaction with the women from affected communities, I learnt that they were keenly looking forward to attain economic independence through ActionAid sponsored sustainable livelihood programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2015/01/typhoons-mired-communities-struggle-hard-evade-future-disasters#commentsProjectEmergencies & ConflictPakistanMon, 05 Jan 2015 11:05:36 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani578716 at http://www.actionaid.orgStop violence against women!http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2014/05/stop-violence-against-women
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<p>In a society where a lot is happening to tarnish the image of the country as a moderate nation, the recent event of honor killing which caused death of a pregnant woman through pelting, has further worsened the situation for the most disempowered and helpless folks particularly the women.</p><p>This is pity that women in Pakistan are not merely denied basic rights rather violation of these rights by their men counterparts and the society at large has become a rule rather than exception. The most exasperating part of the fact is that majority of the people don’t realize the severity of the issue. They refuse to consider it a social evil. On the other hand, they interpret it as a private affair of a family which tantamount to deriding the woes of women.</p><p>This callous approach towards women is borrowed by a large section of the society in the name of centuries old traditions and inhuman norms. Though state laws out rightly condemn such traditions but the fact is that in all such cases, the accused being the blood relative of the victims, manage to seek acquittal from courts of law because the law allows the victims’ families(culprits themselves) to forgive their assassinators.</p><p>ActionAid in collaboration with other civil society organizations have since long been struggling to highlight issues of gender based violence against women. ActionAid has been taking these issues holistically by devising strategies to ensure women’s economic empowerment, rights awareness and advocacy campaigns to guarantee passage of women friendly laws from both national and provincial legislatures.</p><p>Unfortunately, there is dearth of research data around this issue. As per the figures quoted by different civil society organizations, more than 1000 Pakistani women are killed each year by their families in the name of honor killing. This is feared that the number of such horrible incidents could be higher if a comprehensive research study is carried out across Pakistan.</p><p>This is high time for the civil society to speak loudly against inhuman incidents of honor killing. Unless women are allowed to seek education, learn entrepreneurship skills and take independent decisions, gender based violence and acts of honor killing may continue to recur in future. In Pakistan, gender based violence against women continue to prevail in different forms.</p><p>ActionAid Pakistan has developed different local level programs to raise awareness against different forms of gender based violence. Similarly a number of policy advocacy campaigns have also been launched which marked a success in recent months when Sindh government passed Child Marriage Restraint Act 2013 which specified age limit of 18 and above for girls to get married.&nbsp;</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2014/05/stop-violence-against-women#commentsEducationPakistanWed, 28 May 2014 12:55:22 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani539344 at http://www.actionaid.orgBefore clock stops ticking for poor tenants, women farmers http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/12/clock-stops-ticking-poor-tenants-women-farmers
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<p>UN climate change negotiations in Warsaw, Poland ended without enough good news for the poor countries and no sufficient funds committed for the Philippine <a href="http://www.actionaid.org/typhoon-haiyan">typhoon Haiyan</a> in particular. Harjeet Singh, ActionAid International Coordinator- Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change highlighted the appeal made by Climate Change Commissioner and Head of the Philippines delegation, Naderev Yeb Saño, to the delegates from 195 countries at the opening plenary for “humanity to rise to the occasion”.&nbsp;</p><p>On the other hand UN agencies, Philippine government and non government organizations are on a tight rope. They are striving to respond to the Philippine <a href="http://www.actionaid.org/typhoon-haiyan">typhoon Haiyan</a>, as the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/19/typhoon-haiyan-rebuilding-cost-philippines" target="_self">&nbsp;final cost of rebuilding from Hayian could reach $5.8 billion.</a>The tenants and share croppers in particular are desperate to get an urgent support to rebuild their livelihoods. The crop losses from Haiyan are valued at $110 million, with overall agricultural losses double. And the cruel clock is ticking faster than before to ensure availability of agriculture input support to sow rice sowing timely.</p><p>While attending EFAST training in Bangkok and collating my thoughts for this blog and going through estimates from UNOCHA latest report on the Typhoon situation dated November 25, 2013 made me to think the time that would be required to rebuild lives of affected communities.</p><p>The report highlighted that an estimated 2.5 million people are in need of life-saving food assistance. In addition, an estimated 90 per cent of the rural population consisting of small farmers urgently requires agricultural inputs before the planting season ends in January. It would be very important to see how high-level national taskforce formed by the government to ensure fast track transition from relief efforts to rehabilitation and rebuilding of the affected areas deliver.</p><p>To rebuild livelihoods of farmers, the government has requested support to provide an estimated 1,920 tons of rice seeds, 330 tons of corn seeds, 2,200 tons of fertilizers, 11,000 agricultural tool kits and 1,400 small irrigation water pumps to severely affected farmers. However, it seems small scale farmers especially women farmers are not in the government radar.</p><p>The other worst hit sector was fisheries based livelihoods but pity is that no funds have been committed to restore fisheries based livelihoods. Although, the loss is immense and has severe consequences. I have a firm believe we can play an important role to influence the government and other agencies to include tenants, women farmers in the agriculture compensation and land rehabilitation plans.</p><p>The possible threats on the poor small scale farmers especially women farmers, fisher folks&nbsp;&nbsp; due to Typhoon had taken me back to 2010 where the unprecedented floods in Pakistan caused a colossal damage to agriculture and land. Similar issues emerged like loss and contamination of stored food and seed, silting of agriculture land, damage of irrigation structure and water logging. This resulted in increased number of hungry people as they were not able to cultivate their land.&nbsp;</p><p>The cruel clock is ticking faster than before and the Typhoon impact might get wild for the tenants small scale farmers and fisher folks who are the most marginalized and excluded. If timely measures are not taken, required agriculture inputs will not be provided to clear irrigation channels and repair damaged agricultural infrastructure, support to rehabilitate the fishing community.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/12/clock-stops-ticking-poor-tenants-women-farmers#commentsCampaignPakistanPakistanThu, 12 Dec 2013 12:10:17 +0000nasir.aziz499868 at http://www.actionaid.orgAwaran earthquake affectees await early response http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/10/awaran-earthquake-affectees-await-early-response
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<p><span><span><img src="http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/imagecache/image_content_fullwidth/image/earthquake_disaster_brings_grief_loss_for_elderly_sher_khatoon_0.jpg" alt="File 20191" title="" class="ibimage null" width="555" height="740" />More than 645 people have lost their lives in an earthquake which jolted different parts of Balochistan. On rector scale, its intensity was measured as 7.7 magnitudes. </span></span></p><p><span><span>In Awaran alone, it displaced more than 120,000 people while more than 90,000 people migrated to safer locations. It is reported that more than 2000 people sustained severe injuries. </span></span></p><p><span><span>This information is based on the data collected so far. Communications infrastructure including roads, telephone, schools, and hospitals has been damaged very badly. It is feared that there could be more deaths and damages as information comes in with restoration of communication channels. </span></span></p><p><span><span>The government, social activists and other volunteers have been unable to have access to remotely located villages where huge destruction is being reported.&nbsp; It is feared that there would be more casualties, injuries and destruction if communication infrastructure is not restored soon. </span></span></p><p><span><span></span></span><span><span>Later, our team managed to reach remote villages where ActionAid had implemented its program activities in previous years. They held meetings with the affected community and listened to them carefully. Most of the affected families were facing severe shortage of drinking water, early medical care, food and non-food items including of shelter and blankets. </span></span></p><p><span> </span><span><span>It was observed that lactating mothers and new born babies have specific needs. ActionAid Pakistan plans to bring this aspect of community need into our emergency response program design. ActionAid plans to start relief activities immediately. </span></span></p><p><span><span>Sher Khatoon is 60 years old. She lives in Thertaij village, Awaran. Earthquake inflicted heavy loss on her family. One of her daughter and a granddaughter died. She lost her home and livelihood. She says,</span>“I was sitting in front of my mud made house. One of my married daughters had come here to stay with me. She also had a daughter. Both of them were inside the room when earthquake occurred. Our house collapsed due to powerful shocks. My daughter and a granddaughter were buried inside as there was no one to remove the rubble and save my children. It sounded like judgement day had arrived. Everywhere in the village, there were cries for help. We lost everything including the little food kept in storage. We are poor people and I am afraid we would never be able to reconstruct our house if no one comes to help us”.&nbsp; </span><span> </span></p><p><span><span>Poor people like Sher Khatoon were waiting for support from government and other humanitarian organization that a second wave of earthquake jolts hit them again. There were more death and loss of property. It terrified the people who were already living under open sky with no food, water and clothes. </span></span><span> </span></p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/10/awaran-earthquake-affectees-await-early-response#commentsPakistanTue, 01 Oct 2013 12:50:14 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani482644 at http://www.actionaid.orgSTAFF SECURITY IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESShttp://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/08/staff-security-everybodys-business
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<p><span><span>Following the approval of Global Staff Security Management Policy by ActionAid’s International Assembly, ActionAid Pakistan has initiated a phased roll-out process to ensure each and every staff is aware and informed of the key policy positions and minimum standards for effective management of security risks.</span></span></p><p><span><span>The process kick started with the first roll-out session at the Country Office-Islamabad in which all senior and middle management, support staff and drivers participated.</span></span></p><p><span><span>During the two hour interactive session, participants took keen interest in the policy which addresses several concerns faced by staff , especially those working in high or medium risk contexts. They asked questions, sought clarifications and reiterated their personal commitment to promote a ‘culture of care’ and ‘calculated risk taking’ when it comes to the sanctity of life.</span></span></p><p><span><span>The session opened with the Country Director’s introductory note.&nbsp; Paras Mani Tamang reminded everyone that ActionAid&nbsp; as a global federation commits to highest standards of ‘ duty of care’ and promotes ‘good security sense’&nbsp; which goes beyond just systems and procedures but captures the attitudinal and behavioural side of security. He said ‘when it comes to good security practices, our words and behaviours truly matter...’ </span></span></p><p><span><span>After the brief yet powerful introduction, I was given the podium to run a special presentation highlighting key points of the policy and link them to ActionAid Pakistan’s own security plan.</span></span></p><p><span><span>Javeria Malik, Global Security Advisor joined through Skype during the Questions session and while responding to participants’ queries, also reiterated the need to include partners and communities in risk assessment and management processes ‘ we can never have safer programmes unless our partners and communities are also supported to build resilience and appropriate risk management techniques.’</span></span></p><p><span><span>At the end, all participants received their individual copy of “Security Awareness Handbook” and got a run-through of the Hive based security portal where they can find additional resources, tools and guidelines.</span></span></p><p><span><span>The session closed with the group chanting the Staff Security Mantra “I CARE -WE CARE-TAKE CARE"</span></span></p><p><span><span>Over next few weeks, we will be running similar sessions in Area offices with a special focus on engaging with LRP teams and partners on security risks and their effective management.&nbsp; </span></span></p><p>&nbsp;</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/08/staff-security-everybodys-business#commentsPakistanMon, 19 Aug 2013 17:23:01 +0000aamir.fida470160 at http://www.actionaid.orgA big breakthrough for the schoolchildren of Cholistan!http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/08/big-breakthrough-schoolchildren-cholistan
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<p>Cholistan is one of the most neglected and poverty stricken area of Pakistan. The people of Cholistan live a very hard life as many basic amenities of life are almost non-existent in the area. ActionAid Pakistan has been working with people in the Bahawalpur district of Cholistan as a long-term Local Rights Programme since 2011.</p><p>The Punjab government launched a project called Parha Likha (Educated) Cholistan in 2009. The project aimed at funding 75 schools in different parts of Cholistan. People in the communities themselves provided land for school buildings and they pledged their commitment to ensure the provision of drinking water in these schools. Though not up to the satisfaction of the local community, meager salaries were provided to the teaching staff and free teaching aid materials, including books and school kits.</p><p>More than 5500 children have been benefitting from this project, which was due to close in March 2014 if no further funding became available. Soon the people realized that unless they launch a campaign for the continuation of the project, it was a real possibility that the project might close down if no further funding allocations were made and a new agreement reached.</p><p><img src="http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/imagecache/image_content_fullwidth/image/camp_school_children_mark_their_protest_against_premature_closure_of_schools.jpg" alt="File 19071" title="" class="ibimage null" width="555" height="416" /></p><p>Al-Sadiq Desert Welfare Organization launched a vigorous campaign with the support of Actionaid Pakistan to save the future of these schools. After many press talks, publications, camp school activity and rallies, the Chief Minister of Punjab began to take notice!</p><p>We're very pleased to report that the school funding is being extended - and salaries for teachers has more than doubled. Junior Teachers were getting 2500 rupees and Senior Teachers were getting 5000 per month. Now the proposed amount for junior teacher is 9000 and for senior teacher it's 12000! Needless to say, both the teachers and the parents, after campaigning for a good quality of education for their children, are very happy.</p><p>In next phase of the campaign we will ask the government to run these community schools under the umbrella of the Education Department instead of Cholistan Development Authority. This shift would secure the future of these 75 community schools on a permanent basis.</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/08/big-breakthrough-schoolchildren-cholistan#commentsPakistanAsiaSchoolEducationPakistanMon, 05 Aug 2013 19:09:53 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani467061 at http://www.actionaid.orgDisaster Preparedness is Key to Preventing Devastationhttp://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/shared/disaster-preparedness-key-preventing-devastation
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PakistanAsiaFloodsEmergencies & ConflictPakistanMon, 29 Jul 2013 10:36:41 +0000tufail.ahmed465109 at http://www.actionaid.orgSpace for NGOs in Pakistanhttp://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/04/space-ngos-pakistan
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<p class="MsoNormal">NGOs in Pakistan &nbsp;are consistently being propagating the agenda of rights, be it labor rights, social security rights, protection rights through trade unions, alliances and networks around various sectors e.g. mineworkers, fisher folk, domestic workers, farmers etc. The competing realities of real time finances have gradually diluted the voice of NGOs but, nevertheless, it has continued to have a watch dog status through persistent activism and campaigning which is an area that can be strengthened further to consolidate the desired change in the lives of millions.&nbsp;<span>Nowadays, it is often said that the space for NGOs/INGOs operating in Pakistan has reduced which has implications on their ability to work on short/long term issues, as well as responding to the humanitarian crises.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Democratic Space:</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal">The process of Islamization that started in the Zia era had legitimized the role of religion in the political affairs of the state thus affecting the social fabric of the whole society. While tracing back the history of NGOs in Pakistan, Women Action Forum (technically not an NGO) comes to mind. The radical debate and opposition raised by WAF in 70s against the powerful military dictator is not to be seen now days, rather the stance/demands seem much more diluted now. Multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic social construct was forced to converge on religious identity hence reducing the democratic and open space available for any healthy discourse. In recent years this threat has become very visible and has been felt and observed by almost all civil society organizations but the organizations voicing against human rights abuses vis-à-vis women and minorities have been under the direct threat. The assassination of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab and Shahbaz Bhatti, Federal Minister for Minorities and an attack on Malala are just few examples. The number of organizations working on critical issues such as laws of evidence and inheritance , Qisas and Diyat (Q&amp;A) &nbsp;and Blasphemy Law, which unfairly victimize &nbsp;the already most vulnerable and most marginalized groups in society, have been remarkably reduced not because these issues have been addressed but due to absence of safe and open space. In a country infested with patriarchal mindset, &nbsp;this reduced space contributes in furthering the marginalization of women, children, and minorities through inter-religious/ sectarian, tribal violence and violence against women at community level, mirroring deep rooted and culturally embedded ‘structural violence’. Often, these violations occur along various identity lines, while the actual root cause remain the same, which is access to and control over resources, opportunities and ultimately power.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Fragile Security Situation</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>Security concerns and violence are widespread throughout Pakistan. More recently, we have seen the sharp increase in killings of polio workers across the country, teachers and health workers and more recently famous rights activist Parveen Naz was killed&nbsp; in Karachi. Evolving security threats, in particular kidnappings-for-ransom have further hampered activities and staff movements, compelling some international organizations to recall staff and to scale down or &nbsp;in some cases close their operations. In the most prominent case, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), after the beheading of a kidnapped expatriate worker in Balochistan’s provincial capital, Quetta, closed offices in Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi (ICRC Report). The killing of NGO staff/offices involved in reproductive rights of women, education and empowerment have been easy target of indiscriminate killings, threats and bomb blasts. While acknowledging that working for human rights, especially in challenging situations and circumstances, involves a high likelihood of political and security risk, NGOs/INGOs are showing their resilience through enabling the staffs with necessary skills, knowledge and capacity. Most of the organizations are not taking security management as a restrictive necessity rather ensuring continuity even under difficult conditions.</span></p><div><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><strong>Reliance on National Partners:</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>The unpredictable political and security situation along with operational considerations increases the reliance of INGOs on national NGOs as partners for development. INGOs work with partners, coalitions and alliances helping them in advancing the struggles of excluded people through generating more sustainable support at local level which adds value by bringing in local perspectives and help in addressing many operational issues. The credibility and reputation of INGOs (donors in this case) rely on the operations and management of national partners. With deteriorating security situation and restrictions by the government, monitoring and evaluating the work done by local partners becomes extremely challenging. Many credible and well reputed international organizations lose their goodwill and reputation because of the weak management systems set in place by the local partners which potentially risks the credibility of organization. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Trust Deficit:</strong></p><span>The vision and mission statements of various NGOs/INGOs show their commitment to bring about a lasting change on the lives of people with whom they work. But in reality, the promises have not been fulfilled for millions. The absence of “real impact” at a societal level of NGOs work has reduced the trust of public on their operations. The public trust on Madrassa’s, SOS Villages and Eedhi (local charity) is far better placed than most of the INGOs/NGOs operating in Pakistan which gives them a far better playing field as compared to their other counterparts. These organizations have better public image, support, funds and sustainability. The public perception of NGOs as “working on western agenda” with very less impact to be demonstrated on the ground has been further strengthened by the absence of accountability mechanism within the NGO management systems. Public legitimacy and support is extremely important to carve out a more open space for the operations of organizations, primarily working for the rights of people.</span></div><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText">&nbsp;</p></div></div> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/04/space-ngos-pakistan#commentsNewsaidgovernanceNGO.Securitywomen rightsGovernancePakistanThu, 25 Apr 2013 15:54:49 +0000uzma.tahir434839 at http://www.actionaid.orgLandless minority community succeeds in acquiring landhttp://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/03/landless-minority-community-succeeds-acquiring-land
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<p>The process of land allotment to almost a hundred thousand (100000) families in district Rahim Yar Khan (ActionAid’s LRP 22) has been started by the provincial government of Punjab. It forebodes beginning of a new era for the poorest people including the most deprived Schedules Caste Hindu community. Since 2009, ActionAid Pakistan has been working with the landless community of Rahim Yar Khan (LRP 22) particularly the Scheduled Caste Hindus to claim for their right to residential land. It took them more than four years to succeed in their struggle after going through a tremendous effort in alliance building, lobbying and campaigning.</p><p>Starting from local authorities, the scheduled caste Hindu community reached out to all key decision and policy makers in provincial and federal capitals. Media, civil society and ActionAid Pakistan in particular stood alongside them to bring an end to their untold miseries and sufferings. In 2012, ActionAid supported the community to come to provincial capital and raise their demand as forcefully as possible. They held press conferences, protest gatherings and sit-ins at all important avenues. It was such a compelling effort that the Chief Minister sent his envoy to them who promised to accept their demand.</p><p>It was only in March 2013 that their struggle culminated in a big success when the government started distributing land allotment certificates to landless Hindu and Muslim community. Of all the beneficiaries, the Scheduled Caste Hindus comprise more than 60%. Though this is unfortunate that a small number of Scheduled Caste Hindus had been left out from the final list of the beneficiaries, yet they are very hopeful to get such errors fixed by the concerned district revenue department. ActionAid Pakistan has initiated preparing list of those individuals who were deprived of benefiting from this opportunity. The community is now well trained and prepared to lobby with the decision makers and pressurize them to fulfill their justified demand. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>It is worth mentioning here that ActionAid Pakistan has also been supporting this community to seek their right to graveyard land and Hindu Marriage Registration which has duly been acknowledged by media, civil society and all political parties. Another success in this regard is already in the making and offing. Hindu Marriage Registration Act has been presented in the Parliament and we hope it will soon become a law. Actually the marriage registration campaign laid a solid foundation for other parallel campaigns led by the Scheduled Caste Hindu Community. The land allotment decision taken by the provincial government has further pressurized the federal government, on both moral and political grounds, to pace up the process of legislation.</p><p>Despite being the indigenous people of the land, the Scheduled Caste Hindus were facing serious threat to their survival. They were forced to vacate those lands where they had memories of their forefathers’ childhood and origin. They were even deprived of the land comprising their centuries old graveyards. Sooner there was no place for Hindu graveyard and they have to carry their caskets to other parts of the country. &nbsp;When ActionAid reached out to them, the process of awareness-raising started all at once. The community got united within a short period of time and they were able to put forward concrete demands regarding multiple issues being faced by them including of right to residential land, graveyard and Hindu marriage registration.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/03/landless-minority-community-succeeds-acquiring-land#commentsPakistanWed, 13 Mar 2013 11:26:29 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani424197 at http://www.actionaid.orgCelebrating DEFIANCEhttp://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/celebrating-defiance
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<p class="MsoNormal">After years of shouting slogans and sitting in conferences, seminars and trainings where we talk and talk and yet talk about the emancipation of women rights, we become de-sensitized to feel the agony of a young girl whose body is given away to a man of twice her age so that the debt of father can be settled, we somehow forget about millions of girls and women who are killed in the name of honor- the burden of which is carried by women only. Even today, the United Nations states that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime that's more than one billion women and girls alive today.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In Pakistan struggle for women rights came into the limelight on 12th February 1983 when a group of women in defiance of the “Law of Evidence” (evidence given by one man became equal to two women) staged a protest against the then Military Dictator Zia-ul-Haq. They were brutally beaten, imprisoned and trialed as that was the first public protest against the martial law.</p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">The struggle of defiance that started on 12 Feb thirty years ago have given way to twice elected women prime minister, Speaker of national assembly and deputy Speaker of provincial assembly, Governor of State Bank, an autonomous National Commission on Status of Women, women Vice Chancellors of various universities and importantly increased ratio of women’s public representation at national and provincial levels.</p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">But all these successes have come through a heavy price and lot of brave women and men have contributed in making these dreams a reality.</p><blockquote><p><span>The struggle is not over yet, but commemorating 12th February is a way to celebrate the defiance of Pakistani women against exclusion, injustice and inequality!</span></p></blockquote> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/celebrating-defiance#commentsNewsWomens RightsPakistanWed, 20 Feb 2013 16:26:04 +0000uzma.tahir412923 at http://www.actionaid.orgParliamentarians pledge early passage of Mine Workers Act http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/parliamentarians-pledge-early-passage-mine-workers-act
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<p>Mine workers in Pakistan have been living a very miserable life due to absence of any kind of social security for them. They are deprived of basic rights of occupational safety and health facility. Despite the minimum wage law passed by the federal government, mine workers are not entitled to it. Most of them are not even registered as workers therefore they are discriminated against which adds on to their unending sufferings.&nbsp;</p><p>Since 2010, ActionAid Pakistan has joined the mine workers to raise their demand for a comprehensive package of social protection. In partnership with local organizations like Anjuman Rafah-i-Aama and Anjuman Falah-e-Moashara, ActionAid Pakistan conducted various educational sessions with the mine workers from Khushab and Pind Dadan Khan to apprise them of the existing labour laws and Mine Workers Act 1923. It led to a critical review of the existing laws and demand for reformation and enactment of a new Mine Workers Act.</p><p>The review process helped the mine workers unions to realize their strength and put forward their demand in rights based perspective. In 2010 and 2011, the workers held a number of lobbying and interactive meetings with different stakeholders including the duty bearer institutions, media, mine owners, the civil society and the parliamentarians. After the passage of 18th constitutional amendment, the federating units were empowered to legislate on issues of labor force including of mine workers.</p><p>During last three years, the mine workers registered a number of achievements by forcing the local and provincial government authorities to increase minimum wage rates, &nbsp;establish residential colony for mine workers, registration of un-registered mine workers, scholarship for their children and issuance of EOBI as well as health cards. The jubilant workers were inspired by the success and they vowed to continue it further until the Punjab (provincial) government passed the new Mine Workers Act.</p><p>To utmost pleasure of the mine workers, ActionAid and its local partners, &nbsp;&nbsp;parliamentarians (form both ruling and opposition parties) endorsed the demand being raised by mine workers. In Punjab Legislative Assembly, the speaker assigned the task to special committee of parliamentarians to take up the issue of mine workers and draft a new Mine Workers Act. As the tenure of this parliament is about to expire in a month time, it is very important that the new draft law is prioritized for immediate passage.</p><p>ActionAid Pakistan, its local partners and above all the mine workers unions are assisting the parliamentarians in drafting the new law with inclusion of special provisions to address their long standing grievances. Other stake holders particularly the media and civil society have joined hands with the mine workers to get the law passed straightaway.</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/parliamentarians-pledge-early-passage-mine-workers-act#commentsCampaignPakistanPakistanTue, 12 Feb 2013 15:43:32 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani409770 at http://www.actionaid.orgSCRM's charter of demand in the limelight!http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/scrms-charter-demand-limelight-0
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<p>Scheduled Caste Right Movement (SCRM) has gained momentum to embrace success of their years-long struggle to seek fulfillment of their basic rights as citizens of Pakistan.</p><p>It has been reflecting badly on the affairs of the government when Scheduled Caste Hindus came out to the street to tell heart rendering stories of social discrimination and injustice being meted out to them unscrupulously.</p><p>The first and foremost demand is related to a serious issue of marriage registration which Scheduled Caste Hindus were denied on grounds of non-existence of law to grant the registration.</p><p><strong>Women could not seek national identity cards with data showing name of their husbands, married couple could not produce marriage registration certificate hence denied access to hotels, husbands could not register complaints in the police station in case of abduction of their wives.</strong></p><p>Why this all had been happening-just because they being the poor community were ignored and discriminated against.</p><p>ActionAid is proud of its decision to stand with SCRM in putting forward their basic demand of marriage registration. With the support of civil society and lawyers’ fraternity, a Hindu Marriage Registration Act was drafted.</p><p>With a series of lobbying and campaigning initiatives, the bill was presented in the national assembly which is in final process of its passage. We stand with the Scheduled Caste Hindus in their prayers and efforts to early passage of the act.</p><p>Second important demand related to ‘Residential Land Allotment’. The community was deprived of land rights as none of them owned the land where they had been residing since generations.</p><p>They were so helpless that even graveyard land was not available to them. The powerful sections of the society, mostly the feudal lords kept encroaching their land and they have been squeezed to a small portion of land called ‘Katchi Abadi’(a non-permanent settled area of poor people).</p><p>Again a series of protest demonstration, lobbying with parliamentarians and appearance on media stories geared up the demand so loudly that it got reception from the government which announced allotment of residential land to all landless people of Katchi Abadis. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Third and the most significant demand related to meaningful participation in the electoral process. In January this year (2013), more than 2000 Scheduled Caste Hindus gathered in Rahim Yar Khan to demand for a speedy action to ensure that they take part in the upcoming election as equal citizens.</p><p>Their peaceful method of calling for attention of concerned authorizes attracted media and the civil society. The issue got comprehensive coverage from media and even parliamentarians seem to be interested in the issue as it can help them win support of thousands of Scheduled Caste Hindu families living in their constituencies.</p><p>Let us stand with ‘People’s Action’ to end poverty together! &nbsp;</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/scrms-charter-demand-limelight-0#commentsCampaignPakistanPakistanWed, 06 Feb 2013 01:11:30 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani408008 at http://www.actionaid.orgSCRM's charter of demand in the limelight!http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/scrms-charter-demand-limelight
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<p>Scheduled Caste Right Movement (SCRM) has gained momentum to embrace success of their years-long struggle to seek fulfillment of their basic rights as citizens of Pakistan.</p><p>It has been reflecting badly on the affairs of the government when Scheduled Caste Hindus came out to the street to tell heart rendering stories of social discrimination and injustice being meted out to them unscrupulously.</p><p>The first and foremost demand is related to a serious issue of marriage registration which Scheduled Caste Hindus were denied on grounds of non-existence of law to grant the registration.</p><p><strong>Women could not seek national identity cards with data showing name of their husbands, married couple could not produce marriage registration certificate hence denied access to hotels, husbands could not register complaints in the police station in case of abduction of their wives.</strong></p><p>Why this all had been happening-just because they being the poor community were ignored and discriminated against.</p><p>ActionAid is proud of its decision to stand with SCRM in putting forward their basic demand of marriage registration. With the support of civil society and lawyers’ fraternity, a Hindu Marriage Registration Act was drafted.</p><p>With a series of lobbying and campaigning initiatives, the bill was presented in the national assembly which is in final process of its passage. We stand with the Scheduled Caste Hindus in their prayers and efforts to early passage of the act.</p><p>Second important demand related to ‘Residential Land Allotment’. The community was deprived of land rights as none of them owned the land where they had been residing since generations.</p><p>They were so helpless that even graveyard land was not available to them. The powerful sections of the society, mostly the feudal lords kept encroaching their land and they have been squeezed to a small portion of land called ‘Katchi Abadi’(a non-permanent settled area of poor people).</p><p>Again a series of protest demonstration, lobbying with parliamentarians and appearance on media stories geared up the demand so loudly that it got reception from the government which announced allotment of residential land to all landless people of Katchi Abadis. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Third and the most significant demand related to meaningful participation in the electoral process. In January this year (2013), more than 2000 Scheduled Caste Hindus gathered in Rahim Yar Khan to demand for a speedy action to ensure that they take part in the upcoming election as equal citizens.</p><p>Their peaceful method of calling for attention of concerned authorizes attracted media and the civil society. The issue got comprehensive coverage from media and even parliamentarians seem to be interested in the issue as it can help them win support of thousands of Scheduled Caste Hindu families living in their constituencies.</p><p>Let us stand with ‘People’s Action’ to end poverty together! &nbsp;</p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/02/scrms-charter-demand-limelight#commentsCampaignPakistanPakistanWed, 06 Feb 2013 01:11:29 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani408007 at http://www.actionaid.orgYouth in the lead role to use modern media for social change http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/01/youth-lead-role-use-modern-media-social-change
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<p><span><span>Pakistan is one of those countries across the globe where size of youth is enormously big. Many factors may have contributed to this phenomenon of youth bloom like absence of an effective family planning system, lack of recreational opportunities for the public and an unnoticed practice of early marriage across the board. </span></span></p><p><span><span></span></span><span><span>Unfortunately, there has been little effort on the part of government to reach out to the youth and channelize their talent, passion of volunteerism and dedication for a better society to live in and prosper. </span></span></p><p><span>&nbsp;</span><span><span>In recent years, we have seen a number of political parties wooing youth for party cadre which provided youth an opportunity to organize and voice out their concerns on political fronts. However, a need for youth’s formal engagement in socio-political and economic decision-making and development is an acknowledged fact if we really want to see change in the lives of poor people of Pakistan. </span></span></p><p><span>&nbsp;</span><span><span>Believing in ‘people’s power to end poverty’, ActionAid Pakistan strategized its interaction with youth from across Pakistan. Apart from launching an innovative programme named as ‘Activista’ which unites youth from across the globe, we decided to facilitate local youth networks to gain social media skills for highlighting issues of the community they were part of. </span></span></p><p><span><span>In this regard, a youth network from Karachi LRP (Local Rights Programme) was selected for initiating a debate on social issues and imparting appropriate social media skills to report and analyze the interconnectivity of multiple social problems with a purpose to make state institutions more responsive and accountable to public demand. </span></span></p><p><span><span>&nbsp;I am writing this blog on the very first day of training where I found youth keenly involved in unfolding various layers of deep rooted social issues. Starting from very basic concepts of gender, sex, patriarchy and social injustice, the youth group comprising of both girls and boys discussed multiple issues having impact on them and lives of the millions of voiceless people in Pakistan. </span></span></p><p><span><span><strong>The most interesting part of today’s session was the ingenuity of ideas and observations, the youth came up with. From their analysis of the socio-political context, I realized that the youth in Pakistan was more optimistic and confident of the change required to ensure social progress and prosperity.</strong> </span></span></p><p><span>&nbsp;</span><span><span>During the next few days, the participants will be acquiring skills to use social media including of web, facebook, twitter, video documentaries, photo galleries, blogs and other mainstream media sources for ensuring a social change. </span></span></p> </div>
http://www.actionaid.org/pakistan/2013/01/youth-lead-role-use-modern-media-social-change#commentsPakistanPakistanFri, 18 Jan 2013 02:40:38 +0000Zakaria.Nutkani403180 at http://www.actionaid.org